Internet Access at home

Up for consideration is purchase of air cards for each of our students to insure equitable access for all students to nex+gen Academy. It is expected that as many as 50% of the students that enroll in the school will not have effective access to internet or any access at all. Given the fact that textbooks, when used, will be used in the classroom, it would be necessary and a given that any and all homework could require access to internet for loading documents and completing the research or other necessary steps in development of projects. There fore, I propose that we explore the costs of a unique partnership with the District's carrier/vendor for cellular air access to the internet as follows:

  1. All laptops purchased would include an "air card" or the appropriate technology to access internet through cellular service. This price will be included in laptop configuration which will not exceed $300 per year per unit on a four-year lease.
  2. Verizon would provide an agreement with our nex+gen Academy students for cellular access during all four years of high school for an amount that would not exceed $200 per year per unit on a four-year lease.
  3. Verizon would be considered a strategic partner to nex+gen Academy allowing access to certain clients for modeling and demonstrations. Students would support other community action events that Verizon might be involved in as partners. Verizon personnel would be invited to be recognized in a variety of ways to the community, parents, and District.